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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state collaboration with federally recognized Indian |
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tribes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the State-Tribal |
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Collaboration Act. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 471 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 471. STATE COLLABORATION WITH INDIAN TRIBES |
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Sec. 471.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "American Indian" means an individual who is: |
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(A) a member of a federally recognized Indian |
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tribe; or |
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(B) eligible for federal services and programs |
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provided to American Indians, including services and programs |
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provided by the United States Department of Health and Human |
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Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. |
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(2) "Indian tribe" means a federally recognized tribe, |
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band, pueblo, or community of American Indians located wholly or |
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partially in this state. |
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(3) "State agency" means an agency, department, |
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office, or other entity in the executive, legislative, or judicial |
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branch of state government and includes an institution of higher |
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education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 471.002. ANNUAL MEETING. Not later than the last day |
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of the third quarter of each state fiscal year, the office of the |
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governor and the leaders of Indian tribes shall meet to address |
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issues of mutual concern. An employee of the governor's office, a |
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member of the legislature, or an employee of an appropriate state |
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agency may attend the meeting. |
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Sec. 471.003. RIGHT OF ACTION. Nothing in this chapter |
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creates a right of action against a state agency or waives state or |
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tribal immunity. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |